Juggling life, work and volunteering

Published: 22 Oct 2018

This week we are celebrating National Pro Bono week (22-27 October) by highlighting the work of our very generous and knowledgeable volunteer solicitors who offer pro bono advice on our helpline and email platform.

We asked them a few questions about their volunteering.

Here’s what our volunteer Rhiannon Maddox, had to say:

What queries have surprised you or affected you the most?

It isn’t the content of the queries to Working Families which surprises me so much as how complex it is for parents and carers to navigate their family and employment rights. Areas such as maternity leave, paternity leave, shared parental leave, adoption leave, flexible working and the raft of welfare and benefits rights really does highlight the importance of our work in helping families when they are at their most vulnerable and overstretched.

Why do you volunteer for Working Families?

Being a volunteer with Working Families allows me to get back up to date with the latest employment law and policy through the online email platform. I have discovered new purpose through improving families’ access to advice through my work on updating web content and creating FAQs on Shared Parental Leave (an ongoing project!).

It is such a supportive environment in which to get my head back into the application of law. Following a four year career break from legal practice – during which I have worked in adoption advice-giving and completed a Scandinavian Masters in Child Studies whilst bringing up my young family – volunteering each week provides an opportunity to re-energise my knowledge of this incredibly important area of law

If you would like to call our helpline for free legal advice the number is 0300 012 0312 or email advice@workingfamilies.org.uk Please check the helpline opening hours.